Sundance Institute will pay tribute to Jesse Eisenberg, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Beth de Araújo and Dawn Porter at its annual fundraiser, titled Celebrating Sundance Institute: The Boulder Debut, on Jan. 22.
Eisenberg is set to receive the Sundance Institute Trailblazer Award, which recognizes an artist's contributions to independent film. Past recipients include Chloé Zhao, James Mangold and Christopher Nolan.
The actor and filmmaker said he was "jumping with joy and gratitude" over the recognition, adding that he felt honored and surprised to receive the Trailblazer Award. He noted that every previous invitation to the Sundance Film Festival had left him jumping for joy.
Eisenberg has appeared at the festival as an actor in films such as "The Squid and the Whale," "Holy Rollers" and "The Double," and as a filmmaker with "When You Finish Saving the World" and "A Real Pain." His next film, "The Debut," arrives in theaters on Dec. 11.
Prince-Bythewood will be presented with the Robert Redford Luminary Award, which honors artists who have used their platform to create previously unavailable possibilities. The writer and director has championed new voices and independent storytelling through films including "Love & Basketball," "The Secret Life of Bees" and the upcoming "Children of Blood and Bone."
The Vanguard Award Presented by Acura for Fiction will go to de Araújo, the director of "Josephine" and "Soft & Quiet." Porter, who directed "When A Witness Recants" and founded Trilogy Films, will receive the Vanguard Award Presented by Acura for Nonfiction. Both awards celebrate storytelling and creative independence across fiction and nonfiction work.
"We are deeply honored to recognize the incredible and groundbreaking honorees at Celebrating Sundance Institute: The Boulder Debut," said David Linde, CEO of Sundance Institute. He described this year's event as a memorable kickoff marking a historic first festival in the organization's new home, while continuing its legacy of supporting and honoring bold voices in independent cinema.
The 2027 Sundance Film Festival runs Jan. 21 through Jan. 31 in person in Boulder, Colorado. An at-home program will also be available online from Jan. 28 through Jan. 31.
